Norfleet heading to Bulgaria

Many people probably don't, and especially about any professional basketball leagues in the country. But Norfleet, a recent Mount St. Mary's University graduate, is soon about to learn more about the European country.

After finishing a standout career for the Mountaineers, Norfleet has signed with Rilski Sportist Samokov of the National Basketball League to begin his professional career.

"I've heard nothing but great things," said Norfleet, who was at the Mount Saturday to help at coach Jamion Christian's basketball camp for high-school kids. "The people have welcomed me already over social networks. I'm kind of nervous, just going to a new place and having to adapt to a culture and the language and stuff. I'm definitely excited to go there to start my professional career."

The 6-foot-2 guard played a key role in helping the Mountaineers win the Northeast Conference championship last season, earning them an NCAA Tournament bid. Norfleet was second on the team in scoring at 17.2 points per game and averaged a team-high 5.5 assists per game.

He scored 20 or more points nine times in 2013-14 and scored a season-high 31 in a 20-point win over Norfolk State on Jan. 3. Norfleet is 14th on the list of the Mount's all-time leading scorers with 1,605 career points.

Since finishing his career at the Mount, Norfleet has signed with GoEmpire Group, a sports agency based out of Chicago. He then signed to play in Bulgaria on July 15.

"They have many connections over in Europe and they called me one day and said they had been talking to a team in Bulgaria and they had seen a lot of film of me," Norfleet said. "They definitely wanted me to play for the team. I talked to the coach, they gave me an offer, and I accepted."

Norfleet may not be the only Mount grad that will be playing overseas after finishing his collegiate career. Christian said both Rashad Whack and Sam Prescott will likely find somewhere to play in the next few weeks.

Whack led the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game, two years after transferring from George Mason University to join Norfleet and Prescott at the Mount. Prescott averaged 11.1 points per game last season and two seasons ago, he scored 44 points in a game against Bryant, tied for fifth for most points in a single game by a Mount player.

Christian said former Mountaineers coach Milan Brown, who now coaches at Holy Cross, once told him the importance of having players continue their careers overseas.

"One of the things Milan Brown told me when I first got into coaching is anytime you have your guys going to play somewhere after college," Christian said, "that means you're doing a great job as a program and that means you're going to have a chance at a lot of success."

The Mount has certainly been successful under Christian, reaching the NEC title game his first year and the NCAA Tournament last season.

But along with team success, Christian said he aims to prepare players for the next step after college, wherever that may be.

"We really look forward to having guys that have an opportunity to play overseas every season," Christian said, "and we're really trying to develop them to be pros and to play overseas and have that opportunity."